When Nick arrived at the apartment from his shift that morning, he was surprised to find Greg wasn't home. He usually was at home around that time when he wasn't working, so Nick started to worry. After calling his friend, he found out he was at his own apartment right now, so the CSI drove there immediately.
He knocked on the door as he walked in. "Greg?"
"I'm in the bathroom, come in."
Nick raised an eyebrow as he realized the bathroom door was open. "Everything alright? I was worried when I got home and you weren't there. How did your date with Camille go?"
Greg walked into the living room with a fresh ice pack over his left eye. "You tell me."
Nick had just sat down on the couch, but immediately rose up when he saw his friend. "What the hell happened?!" He hurried over to him to take a look at the wounded face. "Who did this?" Nick put his hand on Greg's chin to take a better look at the wounds.
"Ouch, watch it." He gently pushed Nick back. "I think it's worse than it looks. ...But hurts more than you'd think."
"Have you been to the hospital? Is that blood on your shirt?"
"My nose was bleeding. I don't need a hospital, it's fine."
"...Well, have you been to the police station?"
"What?"
"To report whoever did this." Nick thought about it. "...Please don't tell me Camille did this."
Greg laughed humorlessly. "No, of course not. ...Her ex-fiance did it, though."
"...Ex-fiance? She... what?"
He sat down on the couch with an annoyed look on his face. "Can you believe she didn't tell me about him? I mean, we weren't that serious yet... but I deserve to know, don't you think?"
"Camille was engaged? For how long?"
Greg shrugged. "All I know is that they broke up only two months ago and that he's a violent lunatic."
"Well, did she arrest him or something?"
Greg shook his head as he put his feet on the coffee table.
"...Why not?"
"Because he's her ex, Nick. And I'm fine."
"You're not fine. He had no reason to attack you."
"Yeah well, he did, anyway. It was a weird situation and I just want to forget it ever happened. No reason to blow this out of proportion."
"...I'm not blowing this out of proportion. Have you looked into a mirror?"
He gave Nick a look. "I'm fine."
"Would you stop it? I'm concerned and I have every right to be." Nick tapped his foot on the floor. "Alright, I'll call her."
"...What? No, don't."
"You obviously failed to tell her that her ex-fiance's behavior is unacceptable. He can't run around beating up people without facing any consequences."
"Stop it, Nick. I can handle this myself."
"But you're not. You're waiting for this to go away on its own, but as long as this guy's in the picture... it won't."
Greg rolled his eyes. "Just sit down and relax for a moment. And don't call her."
He pulled his cell phone out. "I'm sorry, I have to."
"...No! Nick!" Greg jumped off the couch.
Nick started browsing his phone for Camille's number. "I'll just ask her a few questions about this guy, is all."
Greg took a few steps towards his friend. "I don't want you to. Leave it alone." He reached his hand out for Nick to give him the phone, but he didn't.
"It's for your best. Both of you. If you ever want a healthy relationship with this woman you have to..."
"I don't want that!" he almost yelled as he interrupted him. "Just give it a rest. I'm done with her."
Nick looked quite surprised. "What? ...Why?"
"...Just don't call her."
"Greg..." Nick sighed. "Why don't you want to report him? Are you worried she might be mad at you when you do?"
He shook his head as he sat down again. "It's not just that. I... can't go through this again."
"What do you mean?" Nick sat down next to him.
"What do you think will happen once I report him? I'll have to talk some detective through it over and over again." He looked down to his feet. "It makes forgetting about it almost impossible."
"...Was it that bad?"
He slightly nodded. "You know, I was in her bedroom because we... we've wanted to... she just went out to take a phone call and there he was. His second punch landed me on the bed and he... See? I hate talking about this, gets me to tear up." Greg wiped away some tears rolling down his cheek with an embarrassed smile on his lips.
"Yeah, but that's okay."
"Is it? If Russell finds out he'll put me on desk duty."
"...Why do you think he'd do that?"
"Because he's worried I'm too distracted at work already. If he finds out a situation like this causes me to panic and be... unable to speak about it without crying like a baby... He won't be needing a psychiatrist's evaluation for that decision."
"...So what? This guy gets to assault you without any repercussions?"
"She swears he's usually not violent." Greg shrugged. "So... Yeah."
Nick shook his head. "I get it, man, but... I don't think it's the right decision."
"Well, it's my decision."
The two sat in silence before Nick talked again, "So what about you two? Everything alright between you?"
"Nothing's alright. First I panicked in the middle of making out with her and then... when this idiot jumped me."
"You got to stop beating yourself up for something completely normal in your situation. If she minds, she'll let you know. But until then... operate under the belief that she's a normal person who understands that traumatic experiences are sometimes hard to deal with. Be glad she's understanding."